M-ette Basketball 2015

The Malta M-ettes had a stellar year, that ended in the State B Championship game in Bozeman.

Ultimately things did not go the way the team wanted, they lost a heartbreaking double overtime game to the Fairfield Eagles.

"You don't go as far as you did last year, and bring the same kids back and have your goal be less than what you did last year," said second year M-ette Head Coach Nate Hammond. "Our goal this year is to win the state championship."

He noted that the team will have lots of goals throughout the season, but ultimately a state title is the final and most important objective.

"We talk about how we want to work together as a team and learn to appreciate each other because those things are going to help us reach that goal," Coach Hammond said. "That's the big picture, winning the state championship."

The team only lost one player, Mercedes Stiles to graduation.

Mercedes will be a hard player to replace, luckily Malta has a deep bench and there are plenty of players that can and will help pick-up the slack.

The team has four senior players that have years of experience in varsity basketball, their growth as players will determine how success Malta can be.

Senior post player Darby Schye is one of those upperclassmen that hope to lead the M-ettes back to state championship contention.

"Darby is one of those kids that's really difficult for anybody to defend one on one," Coach Hammond said. "She's so talented physically, she's such a presence that teams usually have to bring help to double team her."

The fact that Schye is double teamed plays right into Malta's hand, because it opens up shots.

Coach Hammond also noted how good of a runner Schye is on the floor.

Schye was one of three All-state players last season.

Markelle Lett is also in her senior season, and if her defense is any better than it was last year it would be more than perfect.

"Markelle is such a mature kid and smart player. It helps us a ton," Coach Hammond said. "She's a player that I can have guard any position on the floor. She makes very few mistakes, especially on the defensive end."

Hammond noted that Markelle's skill on offensive have improved, which will be a nightmare for other teams.

Senior Rebecca Smith came up huge last year in the state championship, sinking six three point shots at clutch moments.

"Rebecca is a great component for us, because she's a kid that can stretch things out a little bit," Coach Hammond said. "Defenses know that she's an offensive threat."

He went on to say most teams try to plug up the inside on defense, Smith is so talented that teams will try and guard the perimeter thus opening up the inside and giving the team more high percentage shots.

"Rebecca has gotten a lot better with her ball handling and getting to the basket with somebody bumping her," Coach Hammond said. She's a really tenacious kid and a competitive kid."

Junior Hailey Nicholson was a first team all-conference athlete, who shined on offense and defense.

"She is so gifted, she is one of those kids that you can show something once and she can do it. Physically she such a great asset because of her length and ability to score."

Coach Hammond noted that Nicholson is not only a fast runner but she impresses with her ability to catch passes in open space.

Nicholson was the team's second leading scorer last year.

The first leading scorer was sophomore Sophia Stiles, who came as advertised her freshmen year.

"Sophia is a one of a kind kid," Coach Hammond said. "A lot of coaches can go coach girls basketball for thirty years and never get a kid like her. She is pretty special."

Coach Hammond said he's not in a position to compare kids across the state, but he said, "I wouldn't trade Sophie for anybody."

He went on to say that the way she plays matches up so well with the style Hammond likes to coach.

"I like to trap and do a little gambling on defense. I like to try to dictate my offense through my point guard," he said. "The way that she plays makes it easy for me to coach the style that I enjoy coaching."

Senior Kelsey Kuehn is another player that showed an improvement on defense last season.

"She is one of our better post defenders and another kid that is extremely smart and plays the game extremely efficiently," said Coach Hammond. "She seems to always be in the right place at the right time."

The team also welcomes back junior Marley Manoukian, who shined coming off the bench.

"Marley is a kid that is such a competitor and is a kid that is always working her tail off on the offensive end and defensive end. She makes so many things happen and is such an unselfish kid," Coach Hammond said. "She was a kid last year that although she never started for us, she was our fifth leading scorer and probably one of our best defenders."

He went on to say playing off the bench never bothered her. She came to play and win.

Another sophomore that saw time on the varsity team is Jada Nicholson, who displayed some of the same traits as her sister Hailey.

The team is excited about their chance at redemption and they are really looking forward to open up against Class A's Havre, who Malta swept last season.

Havre is Class A's reigning championship team and will not go down without a fight.

Malta M-ette Basketball

DATE OPP Location Time

20-Nov First Practice Home 6 p.m.

12-Dec Havre B/G Away 4 p.m.

13-Dec Fergus B/G Home 6:30 p.m.

19-Dec Glasgow B/G Away 6:30 p.m.

20-Dec Poplar B/G Home 4 p.m.

2-Jan Wolf Point B/G Home 6 p.m.

3-Jan Havre B/G Home 5 p.m.

9-Jan Rocky Boy B/G Home 6 p.m.

10-Jan Roundup B/G Away 5:30 p.m.

13-Jan Dodson B/G JV Home TBA

16-Jan Harlem B/G Away 6 p.m.

17-Jan Plentywood B/G Home 4 p.m.

23-Jan Glasgow B/G Home 6 p.m.

24-Jan Poplar B/G Away 4 p.m.

26-Jan Fergus G Away 7 p.m.

31-Jan Wolf Point B/G Away 4 p.m.

2-Feb Fergus B/G Away 7 p.m.

6-Feb Rocky Boy B/G Away 6 p.m.

7-Feb Roundup B/G Home 4 p.m.

10-Feb Dodson B/G JV Away TBA

13-Feb Harlem SN B/G Home 6 p.m.

14-Feb Plentywood B/G Away 4 p.m.

2/19/2021 B&G Dis. Tourn. Wolf Point TBA

2/26/2028 G DIV Tourn Malta TBA

3 5-7 B DIV Tourn Shelby TBA

3 12 - 14 B& G State Great Falls TBA